Boeing whistleblower raises concerns over safety of 787 Dreamliner jets

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched different investigation into Boeing aft a whistleblower claimed nan airplane shaper took shortcuts with its Dreamliner jets.

Sam Salehpour, a Boeing engineer, alleged successful documents to nan FAA and an question and reply pinch The New York Times that nan shortcuts taken erstwhile manufacturing nan 787 Dreamliner jets could go a superior problem arsenic nan airplanes get older, raising moreover much questions regarding nan company's manufacturing practices.

The FAA confirmed to FOX Business that it was investigating nan study but didn't connection further details.

A Boeing 787 craft seen successful Everett, Washington, connected Nov. 23, 2011. (Boeing Co. / Fox News)

"Voluntary reporting without fearfulness of reprisal is simply a captious constituent successful aviation safety. We powerfully promote everyone successful nan aviation manufacture to stock information," nan FAA said successful a statement. "We thoroughly analyse each reports." 

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This comes arsenic Boeing – which precocious overhauled its activity team – continues to woody pinch fallout stemming from nan plug-in doorway that blew disconnected an Alaska Airlines formation successful January. 

The Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 Boeing 737-9 Max, which was forced to make an emergency landing pinch a spread successful nan fuselage, is seen during its investigation by nan National Transportation Safety Board successful Portland, Oregon, connected Jan. 7, 2024. (NTSB/Handout via / Reuters Photos)

In his report, Salehpour said he discovered value issues pinch really Boeing was assembling nan fuselage of nan 787, according to nan Times. It is fitted together by respective ample pieces from different manufacturers, according to Salehpour. 

After raising concerns astir shortcuts nan institution was taking successful joining these pieces together, Salehpour, who worked for Boeing for much than a decade, was reportedly transferred to activity connected nan 777 – different widebody pitchy – wherever he recovered issues pinch really that fuselage was being assembled, his lawyer, Debra S. Katz, told nan outlet.

FOX Business reached retired to Katz for comment. 

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Salehpour believes that excessive unit is being applied to adjacent nan unwanted gaps successful nan assembly of nan fuselage, which leads to deformation successful nan composite material, nan outlet reported. This could lead to premature nonaccomplishment of nan composite, he told nan Times. 

Boeing told FOX Business that nan "claims astir nan structural integrity of nan 787 are inaccurate" and that nan "issues raised person been taxable to rigorous engineering examination nether nan FAA oversight." 

"This study has validated that these issues do not coming immoderate information concerns and nan craft will support its work life complete respective decades," Boeing said, adding that it will "continue to show these issues nether established regulatory protocols and promote each labor to speak up erstwhile issues arise. Retaliation is strictly prohibited astatine Boeing." 

The Boeing Co. manufacturing installation successful Renton, Washington, connected Jan. 7, 2024.  (David Ryder/Bloomberg via / Getty Images)

The institution said that arsenic of March 2024, much than 1,100 Dreamliners operating globally person transported much than 850 cardinal passengers.

However, this isn't nan first clip a whistleblower has spoken retired astir nan Dreamliner. 

John Barnett was recovered dormant successful March aft raising concerns complete nan company's accumulation standards astatine a works successful South Carolina, which manufacturers nan Dreamliner.  

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Barnett, who worked arsenic a value power engineer, was employed by Boeing for complete 3 decades earlier retiring successful 2017. Two years later, he told nan BBC that Boeing would unreserved to get its 787 Dreamliner jets disconnected nan accumulation line, compromising safety. He died from what appeared to beryllium a self-inflicted gunshot coiled days aft being cross-examined by Boeing lawyers.

The 787 was besides grounded successful 2013 aft artillery meltdowns connected 2 planes. It besides had problems successful 2018 erstwhile blades successful its Rolls-Royce engines deteriorated faster than expected.

FOX Business' Andrea Vacchiano and Ken Martin contributed to this report.